Monthly Archive for August, 2014

: August, 2014

Every day, Americans interact with an increasing number of people from different faiths. With Mormon neighbors, Hindu co-workers, and non-religious friends, it is unsurprising to see a growing number of interfaith marriages in the United States. Indeed, Naomi Schaeffer Riley reported that just less than half (42%) of marriages in the U.S. are interfaith ones. Regardless of geographic location, sex, educational status, or income level interfaith marriages are on the rise.

Susan Katz Miller’s book Being Both: Embracing Two Religions in One Interfaith Family — a book that famed author, and interfaith pioneer, Reza Aslan called, “a gorgeous and inspiring testament to the power of love….” — was written with this growing demographic, and their families, in mind.

Each time Jesus materializes there is undoubtedly controversy concerning orthodoxy and who has the authority to adjudicate Jesus’ authentic appearances and presence. But, what if instead of immediately denouncing these outlier apparitions of Jesus, we all took the opportunity to ask a few relevant questions? …

In a society that is increasingly post-religious and secular, how do we cope with senseless tragedy and death? Who do we invoke to assuage our anguish? In some cases we still might cling to the concept of God or seek the salvific intervention of some compassionate saint or bodhisattva. Other times, we may look to canonized characters from the realm of fantasy fiction. …

Well corroborated reports verify there is religious persecution of minorities occurring in Iraq. ISIS rebels, motivated by a confluence of religious, political, and cultural factors, are threatening, attacking, and murdering those who do not conform to their religious ideals — including Yazidis, Christians, and Shi’a Muslims. But, the situation is not as simple as “Muslims are embarking on a genocide of Christians” and understanding a bit of Iraq’s religious demographics, history, and the story of minority religions can help paint a clearer picture. Here are five things you need to about Iraq, ISIS, & the region’s religious minorities…
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